Canada rows to four medals at World Cup finale
Canadian rowing crews captured four medals at the third and final World Cup of the season on the classic Rotsee course in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Highlighting the haul was the gold won by the women’s eight, featuring Lisa Roman, Rosanne Deboef, Natalie Mastracci, Susanne Grainger, Christine Roper, Ashley Brzozowicz, Cristy Nurse, Lauren Wilkinson and coxswain Lesley Thompson-Willie. Canada led from start to finish, winning by open water over Romania and Great Britain. Incredibly, this was the first ever victory in Lucerne for five-time Olympic medallist Thompson-Willie who has been competing internationally since 1981.
The women’s quad sculls crew of Emily Cameron, Kate Goodfellow, Carling Zeeman and Antje Seydlitz-Kurzbach won silver behind Germany. That foursome also won silver at the 2013 World Championships.
A remarkable comeback by Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee (in feature photo from 2011) led to a bronze medal in the women’s lightweight double sculls. Last of the six boats after the first 500m, the tandem had only made up one place by the 1500m mark. But in the final stretch they were the fastest on the water, a full two seconds quicker than the winners from Great Britain, to finish third.
“Lindsay just felt so strong and powerful behind me, she just went right into the finish,” Obee told World Rowing. “One moment it seemed impossible and the next it felt like YEAAHH!!!”
Canada’s lone medal from the men’s side was a bronze in the four by Will Crothers, Rob Gibson, Conlin McCabe and Kai Langerfeld. Crothers, Gibson and McCabe had all been members of the eight that won silver at London 2012.
“What can I say about that?” McCabe told World Rowing. “We probably rowed our best race of the season right there. Amazing commitment from the guys right from the warm up to the push.”
Next up for the team will be the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands, August 24-31.
Will Crothers celebrates winning an Olympic medal at London 2012.
